A new February 2026 survey commissioned by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and conducted by SSRS finds that a majority of U.S. adults support equality and legal protections for transgender people, including across political lines. Released for International Transgender Day of Visibility, the data comes amid ongoing legislative debates.
The survey shows that the support was strong across party, race and ethnicity, and gender, with more than half of Republicans backing each measure. Among Republicans surveyed, 76% agreed or strongly agreed with equal rights for trans people, compared to 92% of Democrats. The survey of more than 1000 adults also highlighted the role of personal connection: 41% said they know someone who is transgender, and 27% speak with a transgender person regularly.
Those with direct contact showed higher support. The HRC stated: “For Transgender Day of Visibility, that finding carries a simple message: visibility matters, and so does connection. The more transgender people are known not as abstractions, but as friends, family members, coworkers, classmates, and neighbours, the stronger public support for equality becomes.”
